by Lucy Darling
I knew I was already on thin ice with her after the Steve fiasco so I let her have her way. She has been pretty quiet on our walk back. Her revelation that she didn’t have any friends made me feel like a huge asshole. Here she was all alone and I was acting erratic and jealous. I wish I could explain to her that I don’t even know why I’m acting this way.
I step into the elevator and head downstairs to my office. Maybe if I work a little that will clear my head. I know Charla is in the office today, so maybe she’ll have some suggestions on how I can obtain some friends for my little angel. Even though I want to be a jerk and keep her all to myself, there’s still a sane part of me that knows that’s not the right thing to do. I wish I could call my sister to ask her advice, but I don’t want her to worry or to come here and start poking around. I left so that she could focus on her own life and I don’t want her to get side-tracked. I’m a grown man. I should be able to handle this.
“Office,” I say to Charla as I walk past her desk. I don’t have to look at her to know she rolls her eyes at me.
“The grocery store? I’m surprised American Express didn’t call me worried your card had been stolen.”
“Ha ha.” I drop down into my chair.
“What have you done?” I ask her. I run my hand down my face.
“You need someone,” Charla says as she leans against my desk.
“I feel like your words have a double meaning to them.” I look up at her. The woman is brilliant. She’s always two steps ahead of people. She merely shrugs.
“Fine. Get me a kitten.”
“A kitten isn't someone,” she scolds. “You’re not replacing Penelope with a kitten!” The last part is yelled. “You don’t even know how to take care of a kitten. You’re never home. You’re always in this office. You can’t even manage to throw away takeout containers. You cannot have a kitten.” She folds her arms over her chest.
“The kitten is for Penny. I’m not replacing her.” I look Charla dead in the eyes so she knows how serious I am. “She’s not going anywhere.”
Charla’s lip twitch. “Penny? You gave her a nickname.” The corners of her lips tip up and she all-out smiles at me. She doesn’t even try to hide it. This time it’s me that rolls my eyes at her.
“Kitten, Charla.” I remind her to stay on task. “I don’t know what you’ve done to me with this girl but I give up. So get me a kitten so I can make her smile again. She’s been giving me a sour face since I told her she can’t be friends with Steven.”
“Mr. Evans?” She raises an eyebrow at me. “Why can’t she be friends with him? He’s sweet and he’d keep an eye on her for you.”
“I know,” I grit out. The logic is there but I keep ignoring it because I’m blinded by jealousy. I have known Steve Evans since I hand picked him years ago. He is a stand-up man who loves his wife and fought for this country. Every bone in the man's body is good and loyal. Yet that damn jealousy ate at me in the pit of my stomach. It is completely irrational and fucked up but I can’t control it. I need to get it together or I am going to send my angel running before I even get her.
“Check your emails. Take a breather. I’ll find a kitten,” Charla says as she strolls out of my office. “Don’t leave before we have another talk. The mayor has been on my ass all day.”
“Your husband better not find out,” I tease her back.
She turns, giving me a hard glare. “It’s not funny.”
“It’s a little funny.”
“Yeah. We’ll see how funny you think it is when one of those Clementine sisters show up here and I let them in your office.”
My stomach turns. “Kitten,” I say again, pushing those women from my mind. I keep forgetting about that mess. I am hoping it will all just go away. I don’t even know how the hell I landed in this situation with those women. I’ve always steered clear of dating. Work has always been my focus. I’ve been obsessed with making it on my own and not having any dependence on my father. I’m not a big fan of his shady practices and wanted to distance myself from him as much as possible. I’ve watched as he’s dated and discarded women over the years. His relationships soured me on having one of my own, leading me to remain single and focused. That was until I got one taste of my sweet little angel. Now thoughts of marriage keep running through my mind.
I continue working for the next hour or so even though I can’t focus completely. As dinner time approaches there’s a soft knock on my door before Charla pushes it open. My mouth drops open as I stare at her holding a kitten. It’s the puffiest little ball of fur that I’ve ever seen. Its pretty blue eyes look up at me and I know in that instant that Penny is going to be so happy.
“You owe me big time for this one. Do you know how hard it is to get a kitten in a few hours? Thank God money is no object.” She smiles sweetly, letting me know that she probably spent a small fortune on this puffball. The kitten purrs softly as Charla holds it nestled to her chest. I walk towards her, not knowing exactly what to do. She hands me the kitten and it immediately makes itself comfortable against my chest.
“Thank you, Charla. Penny is going to be so excited,” I tell her as I hold the kitten. I can see its white fur all over my suit jacket but I don’t care because I want my angel to be happy. She wanted a little friend and I got her one. It’s not a baby that I put inside of her, but maybe it will make her want to stay once she finds out more of what an asshole I really am. I know everyone in the office calls me Cold, but I don’t give a shit what they call me as long as they do as they’re told and get their jobs done. That is the bottom line to me around here. Still, even as the small fluff of fur purrs into my hand, more of the coldness I’ve layered myself in starts to melt away. Penny has already been wearing it down. This kitten isn’t going to help. I didn't know it would be so cute this close up.
“I never thought I’d see the day but it’s finally here,” Charla says before turning to leave my office, causing me to panic a little. What exactly am I supposed to do with this little thing until I give it to Penny? I look down at the sleepy kitten. Its beautiful blue eyes look at me and it lets out the tiniest meow before it curls into me further.
I walk out of my office to see Charla gathering a bunch of stuff and putting it in a bag. A pet carrier sits next to her as well.
“Everything you need is in the bag. The heavier stuff is downstairs with Mr. Evans with instructions to have someone bring it up once you give the okay.” I almost hug her but that would be weird. She’d probably have me committed if I did.
12
Penelope
The smell of chicken pot pie fills the house. It was a little harder to make then I thought it would be but I got it down. With the house clean and the pie in the oven I’m not sure what I should do next.
I organized the kitchen some and tried rearranging some things around the house. Still something about the condo felt off. Colden had told me to get anything I needed but for some reason my mind is drawing a blank. I want to be here. I am thankful for it but I don’t know what it is about this place that doesn’t feel like a home and I’m not sure if it ever will. It really is built with the sole intention to serve someone who lives a busy life more than someone that is looking to call it home.
I sit at the kitchen counter swinging my legs back and forth. The supermarket was interesting, to say the least. I smile thinking about how we ended up having to get two carts. If I even gazed at something with interest Colden was tossing it into the cart. I’m not sure I’ll be able to eat the pot pie when it’s done. I’ve been nibbling on the piles of snacks Colden got for this place.
I was sure he was going to murder me after the fifth time I ran into him with my cart. Each time I accidentally hit him he’d ask if I was okay. As if I was the one who’d gotten rammed with a cart. Not to mention the display of cookies I’d demolished. It was almost more mortifying than when Colden caught me naked. It all happened in slow motion too. I was so embarrassed.
He’d paid for the destroyed displa
y, all the while blaming the store for the way they’d positioned it. He kept saying that it was their fault but both of us knew better. I was used to my mom losing her shit when I had some kind of mishap. I wasn’t used to someone not only sticking up for me, but fixing it. Colden might be bossy and have mood swings but I am finding they often swung in the direction that favors me. I can’t complain about that.
While I’m waiting, I play with the new phone that Colden purchased for me. I tried not to accept it but he said it was part of my fringe benefits with the personal assistant position. I am still trying to figure it out. It’s much fancier than the one I had and it came with all the bells and whistles. I went from having a phone to owning wireless EarPods, a watch and even this little computer. He said I needed all of these things to do my job efficiently. He might be right. He could be delegating more things for me to do. So far all I’ve done with any of the items is send a few pictures at Colden’s request to show him how the pot pie was coming along.
My curiosity gets the best of me as I tap out and search his name. The first picture that comes up is of Colden and the woman he was with last night. They are in a restaurant together. I know it’s from last night because I recognize the clothes they are wearing. They look like a couple but Colden has that irritated look he gets when something isn’t going the way he likes. The beautiful brunette’s name is Savannah, based on how the picture is labeled. I click away and see she’s the mayor's daughter. This might make me terribly naïve but I have no idea who the mayor even is. It says here he has two daughters. I click through to see Colden at another event that looks like it was a few days ago. Both girls are trying to get his attention but he’s staring down at his phone. The article reads, Which Clementine sister will land one of the city’s most eligible bachelors? I tab out, not wanting to read any more.
Again, I tell myself this isn’t any of my business but Colden is really messing with my head. From the things that happened last night, to him kissing my finger and acting jealous, Colden has me all over the place. It’s all a mess inside of my head. One I can’t afford to have. I need this job so I need to draw a line in the sand. No more kissing my finger or wrapping his arms around me. I give a firm nod to reassure myself I can hold firm on this. Though in this moment as I sit in his kitchen waiting for dinner to be done I feel like his wife. A rush of heat fills me thinking about such a thing. Stay strong and hold the line, I remind myself.
When I hear the door open I stop myself from rushing to greet him. I’m not his wife, nor his girlfriend, I’m his employee, I remind myself. But it might be my job to see if he needs anything. Unable to control myself, I jump down from my chair and walk-run toward the front entry. I freeze when I see Steve, who gives me a wink before he sets down an armful of stuff and turns to leave. My eyes dart back to Colden, who I swear is holding a tiny sleeping kitten.
“Is that a kitten?” I try and whisper, not wanting to wake it up but it comes out loud anyways. I tiptoe over toward him. Colden still hasn't moved. He’s watching me. My eyes bounce from him to the kitten. “I’ve always wanted a kitten,” I say. “I mean, I know it’s your kitten but—”
“It’s our kitten. We both live here, no?” Colden’s question in his deep voice warms all of my insides but causes our kitten to open its little eyes. They are so big and blue I almost melt into a pile of happiness. She lets out a sleepy yawn as she stretches. He motions for me to hold my arms out, to take her. I start to but pause.
“What if I drop her?” I panic.
“Grab her bed. We’ll go over to the sofa.” I do as I’m told, picking up the pink fluffy bed that Steve placed next to the door. I notice there is a pile of other things for our new kitten. I practically run over to the sofa, making Colden laugh. The sound is deep and rich. It floats across my skin, making goosebumps break out all over me.
I set the bed down on the floor next to the sofa as Colden carries the kitten over. “She’s so fluffy,” I say as Colden sits down next to me, giving me the kitten. She curls up in my lap, turning a little to give me her belly to pet.
“I can’t believe you got a kitten.” I keep petting her. She’s already falling asleep. I wonder how much kittens sleep. I need to read everything I can about them now. I feel Colden’s hand go to my back to rest there. His thumb slips under my shirt as he rubs back and forth on my bare skin. The kitten purrs loudly in my lap. I almost purr along with her as Colden continues to touch me. I slowly bend down, placing her in her pink princess bed.
“Did you pick that out?” I ask with a smile. When I turn to look at him he’s still staring at me. I don’t think he’s taken his eyes off me.
“If you don’t like it we can get her a different bed.”
“It’s adorable.” I reach out, trying to wipe some of the kitten hair off Colden’s fancy suit pants with my hand. I gasp when I touch his very hard cock. My hand freezes in place. My eyes go round at what I’ve done. Colden’s whole body goes stiff. We stare at each other for a moment and I can’t help it. I throw myself at him. So much for staying on my side of the line.
13
Colden
Her soft warm body lands on top of mine. I pull her more into me as my mouth finds hers. I bury my hands in her hair, tasting her sweetness. I lose my hold on her, enjoying her kissing me. Her soft sweet affection isn't something I’m used to. It’s intoxicating and I want to savor every second of it. If this is what she is giving me for getting her a kitten we are going to have to move because I’ll bring home a fucking kitten every day and we’ll need more room for that. Maybe a giant farm or something.
Then we’d be out in the middle of nowhere, only her and me. She’d be all mine alone. “You got me a kitten.” She pulls back, and her lips are swollen, making her look even more sexy. When I go out to events women take hours to get ready for it, wearing dresses that I’m sure cost as much as some cars, but Penny is the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen. Her puffy lips, bare face without a speck of makeup on it and her hair that’s wild from me digging my fingers in it, make her more beautiful than any woman I’ve ever seen. I hate to break it to our new little fur ball that is sleeping, but Penny is softer.
“You said you wanted a friend,” I offer. I am a bastard for having her friend be a kitten. I thought it would make me less jealous but I’d be a liar if I didn't feel a tug of it when she was loving on the little ball of fur. The kitten is so cute, I could let this one fly. I could share her with a kitten. It will be the same when we have children. My cock jerks between us. Penny does that cute O expression on her lips with her eyes going wide.
She ignores my cock, schooling her expression. She keeps doing that. Pretending the things we do don’t happen. Trying to gloss over the fact that I made her come last night, saw her naked and tasted her lips multiple times now. She can keep trying to pretend but I’m going to keep kissing her. Sooner or later she’ll have to come to terms with it.
“I don’t think a kitten counts as a friend.” She fights a smile.
“Shh. Don’t let her hear you say that. You’ll hurt her feelings.” I tease her. She looks over to the sleeping kitten, who is resting peacefully. She makes a move to get off me but I grip her hips. “I can be your friend.”
“I don’t think friends kiss.” She lets herself rest back down on top of me.
“Probably not,” I agree. I have one real friend and we sure as fuck have never kissed.
“I don’t think bosses are supposed to kiss their employees either,” she adds in.
“I’ll kiss whoever I want.” I don’t care what title she wants to give herself. Friend, coworker, assistant, I am going to continue kissing her. Hopefully sooner rather than later she’ll give me a taste of her sweet pussy. I want to do much more than only kiss her. I want to spend the rest of my days with her.
“Trust me, I know. You kiss lots of girls.” She rolls her eyes as she tries to push off me again. I have no idea what she’s talking about.
“Hey—” I start but the fire alar
m starts to go off.
“My pot pie!” Penny shouts. I see smoke coming from the kitchen and mutter a curse as I place her down on the sofa before walking off toward the kitchen. I see the oven mitts on the counter and grab them, opening the oven and pulling out the pot pie that is burnt to shit.
“Darn it.” I look up to see Penny standing in the entryway to the kitchen staring at the burnt pot pie. I drop the pan into the sink, not sure what else to do with it. It’s not edible from the looks of it.
“Maybe cooking isn’t your thing,” I try and tease her. She gives me a glare. She has the kitten in her arms and I shit you not I swear it’s glaring at me too. “We can try and eat it?” I offer at a loss for words.
“Why don’t you just have one of your girlfriends over and share it with them,” she says sarcastically, raising her chin. She looks defiant and adorable at the same time. It’s not until she turns and stomps off with her new little fur ball and I hear her door slam that her words register in my mind.
Girlfriends? Where the hell did she get that idea? My mind recalls the night before. That chick wasn't my girlfriend. She was a freaking headache is what she was. Was that what her other comment was about? Me kissing other women? I shouldn't smile because my little angel is angry at me but she’s that way because she’s jealous. That means she feels something for me.
I let out a long sigh. Reaching down, I try and fix my raging hard-on but it’s no use. I should be too old for a case of blue balls but they are already starting to ache. This isn't shocking. My little angel already got me to come in my pants last night just from having her pressed up against me.
I want to chase after her but I’m not sure if that’s the right thing to do. Should I give her a moment to be alone or go bang down her door? At least she didn't stomp to the front door. That has to say something. I look to the ruined chicken pot pie I know she worked hard all day on making. I pick up my phone, sending out a text that I’ll need dinner brought up. After how Penelope ate last night there is no way I am letting her go without dinner.